Demanding linguistic equality is not chauvinism, says TN CM Stalin

CHENNAI: Slamming critics branding his government’s two-language policy as ‘anti-national’ and ‘chauvinistic’, an enraged Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday said that demanding linguistic equality was not chauvinism.

Taking to microblogging site ‘X’ to vent his ire at baiters of the State’s long-cherished two-language policy, Chief Minister Stalin recalled the quote, “When you are accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression,” and said, “I am reminded of this famous quote when some entitled bigots brand us chauvinists and anti-nationals for the ‘crime’ of demanding Tamil’s rightful place in Tamil Nadu.”

“The very people who glorify Godse’s ideology have the audacity to question the patriotism of DMK and its government that contributed the highest amount of funds during the Chinese aggression, Bangladesh liberation war, and Kargil war, while their ideological forefather is the one who assassinated ‘Bapu’ Gandhi,” Stalin said.

“Demanding #LinguisticEquality is not chauvinism. Do you want to know what Chauvinism looks like? Chauvinism is naming the three criminal laws that govern 140 crore citizens in a language that Tamils cannot even pronounce or comprehend by reading. Chauvinism is treating the State that contributes the most to the nation as second-class citizens and denying its fair share of funds for refusing to swallow the poison called #NEP,” he added.

“Imposition of anything breeds enmity. Enmity threatens unity. So, the true chauvinists and anti-nationals are the Hindi zealots who believe their entitlement is natural but our resistance is treason,” he remarked.

In another message posted on his ‘X’ handle, Stalin commemorated the day of formation of the first Dravidian party government led by Anna on this day in 1967, and said, “1967: Anna sat; Tamil Nadu rose. We will leap like a trident if a harm befalls Tamil Nadu. Pounce like a Tiger! And win.”